Although Marilyn Monroe wished to steer clear of face-lifts and stay true to her natural appearance until the end, she recognized the significance of aging and finishing one's journey. In her own words, "At times I believe it would be simpler to evade old age, to pass away young, but then you wouldn't finish your entire life, would you? You'd never fully comprehend yourself." Despite passing away prematurely, Monroe led an unforgettable life filled with successes and challenges.
Although the young woman achieved success, her life remained unstable. On June 1, 1926 at 9:30 a.m., Gladys Mortensen delivered a baby girl in Los Angeles, California. The identity of the father is uncertain due to Gladys having multiple partners during conception; however, it is believed to be either Martin Edward Mortensen or Charles Gifford.
From a young age un
...til she was seven years old, Marilyn Monroe (formerly known as Norma Jeane Baker or Norma Jeane Mortensen) was raised by Ida and Albert Bolender. Although her mother, Gladys Mortensen, gave birth to her, she immediately brought her to be raised by someone else. The reason for Gladys' decision is unknown, but being a single mother during the Great Depression presented challenging circumstances. Additionally, Marilyn Monroe has two older half-siblings on her mother's side whom she has never met.
There are those who suggest that Gladys did not raise her child because she lacked interest or dedication. Nevertheless, in 1933, after Norma turned 7 years old, Gladys took her out of foster care and decided to bring her up alone. However, they were unable to find a permanent residence and Norma had difficulty coping with the commotion and drinking in their
new surroundings. Over time, Gladys became extremely despondent and distanced herself from others, necessitating a stay at a recovery facility and hospitalization.
The rest of Norma’s life was about to be filled with turmoil as she had no place to go apart from foster homes. When Norma was nine years old in 1935, her mother was declared legally insane and her mother's best friend, Grace McKee, applied for legal guardianship. While waiting for the court to appoint a new guardian, Norma was sent to live in the Los Angeles Orphans Home until she turned eleven. McKee later married Ervin “Doc” Goddard in 1937 and they became Norma’s guardians. Six months later, after staying with “Aunt Grace” and her family, Norma was sent to live with distant relatives in Compton.
The reason for her difficulty adjusting may have been rumors that Goddard had tried to sexually abuse her. In the mornings, she would wake up at the Goddards' house and mistake it for the orphanage. Then, without time to adapt to her new surroundings, she would move on to another aunt and uncle's home and experience the same confusion. (Monroe 25) When she was twelve years old, she moved back to Los Angeles and resided with Ana Lower, who was the aunt of Grace (McKee) Goddard and fifty-eight years old.
"She was my first genuine love in the world... She was the only one who genuinely loved and comprehended me." (Monroe 26) Norma faced health issues during her ninth grade, which led to her residing with the Goddards. In spite of this, while she was a freshman in high school, the Goddard family had to relocate due to Doc
Goddard's transfer to West Virginia. They decided to abandon Norma and she returned to live with Aunt Ana, whose health had improved by then. Consequently, Norma did not attend school for the second semester.
Norma Jeane and Jim Dougherty, who were neighbors, developed a friendship in 1941 that later turned into a romantic relationship. Even with an age gap of five years, they remained devoted to each other and tied the knot six months after Norma Jeane's sixteenth birthday when marriage was legally permissible for minors in California. Although their union may not have been considered flawless by certain individuals, their deep affection for one another was undeniable after establishing a bond.
Dougherty (28) states that during the initial year of their marriage, Marilyn Monroe worked as a homemaker until her husband Jim joined the Merchant Marines. Together they relocated to Catalina Island where he was stationed. In 1944, Jim left for the South Pacific with his fellow mariners while she secured employment at the Radioplane Company in the "dope room," working alongside Jim's mother and earning a weekly wage of twenty dollars that aligned with minimum wage standards. It was there that Marilyn caught the attention of David Convor, a photographer who captured images of women contributing to wartime efforts.
Convor saw Marilyn as an ideal photography subject, leading to modeling offers that caused Norma's conflict between Jim and career aspirations, ultimately resulting in their 1946 divorce. To earn more money, she began modeling the same year and moved to Hollywood after seven years of experience. Within two years there, she became a highly sought-after model for various publications.
In her pursuit of career progression, Norma enrolled in
a drama class and obtained a contract with Twentieth Century Fox on August 26, 1946. To complete her metamorphosis, she opted to bleach her hair and adopt the name Marilyn Monroe. Earning one hundred and twenty-five dollars weekly, Marilyn entranced viewers with her captivating mix of innocence and mischief on film, adding to her allure.
In 1947, Marilyn Monroe's acting career commenced with a small role in "The Shocking Miss Pilgrim". It wasn't until the 1950s when she gained recognition after appearing in "The Asphalt Jungle". Her stardom began with "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" in 1953. Marilyn became famous for her roles in popular movies such as "All About Eve," "Don't Bother to Knock," "The Seven Year Itch," "Some Like it Hot," and "How to Marry a Millionaire". Even though Marilyn started with minor roles, she had her first lead in "Don't Bother to Knock". In the 1950s, she also became the primary sex symbol following her appearance on Playboy's first edition cover which sold over fifty-four thousand copies (Luce 32).
Following a two-year relationship with renowned baseball player Joe DiMaggio, the couple exchanged wedding vows on January 14, 1954. The newlyweds embarked on their honeymoon in Tokyo, Japan where Marilyn performed for the troops. However, Joe was uneasy due to the ongoing war and Marilyn's appearance nearly incited a riot. After just nine months of marriage, they parted ways and finalized their divorce on October 27th of that same year amid reported career-related conflicts.
Despite ending their marriage, the couple maintained a strong friendship. In 1955, during the filming of "The Seven Year Itch" in New York City, Marilyn Monroe caused a commotion when her skirt was famously
blown up by a subway air vent on a street corner at 2:00 a.m., attracting a large crowd who cheered and watched. Professional photographers also showed up and took pictures as Marilyn posed for over two hours, simply to give her fans an opportunity to see her.
In search of a more fulfilling acting career, Marilyn left Hollywood for New York and established her film production company in 1956. She became well-known for her comment that "Hollywood's a place where they will pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss, and fifty cents for your soul." However, after experiencing the loss of her unborn child with Arthur Miller in 1957, Monroe decided to take time off from acting.
Following her role in "Some Like it Hot" and receiving a Golden Globe award, Marilyn was impregnated by Miller in 1959 but ultimately endured a miscarriage. In the same year, she wed renowned playwright Arthur Miller, however their marriage ended on January 20th of 1962. During 1961, Arthur composed a unique character for her to portray in "The Misfits," which ultimately served as Marilyn's last motion picture.
According to an unknown source (36), Marilyn Monroe appeared cheerful and enthusiastic on-screen, but off-screen she was a multifaceted and frequently distressed person. Her aim was to become a respected actress, but she struggled with the uncontrollable nature of her public persona. In 1962, Marilyn initiated a romantic relationship with John F. Kennedy. Their connection developed over time.
Following JFK's inauguration, Marilyn relocated to a residence in Brentwood to be near both the President and her physician. Her doctor was providing treatment for her sleeping pill addiction.
Marilyn had experienced an overdose due to
excessive sleeping pill consumption and had to be resuscitated. Moreover, she had undergone frequent stomach pumping sessions in the preceding years for drug intake. She felt that fame made her melancholic at times as she longed to meet someone who appreciated her for who she truly was. Although she enjoyed being a part of people's fantasies, she also craved acceptance for her genuine self.
(Monroe 36) Bobby Kennedy became interested in Marilyn, however, she had feelings for John Kennedy who would visit her at her home and at the Lawfords. They were discovered by one of Kennedy’s advisors having sex in a bathroom and often spoke on the phone. Marilyn had wished that John would divorce Jackie, and she had even envisioned herself as the first lady, as she confided to her friends.
Marilyn started shooting "Something's Got to Give" in April 1962, but the project was halted due to production issues. Despite this setback, Marilyn gave a remarkable performance at Madison Square Garden during John F. Kennedy's birthday celebration. Notably, she required stitching into her outfit for her singing presentation in front of JFK.
During the summer of 1962, Marilyn was given advice to sever all connections with the Kennedy brothers. This news left her feeling devastated. Although she was grateful for having had the opportunity to sing in a "sweet and wholesome" manner for them while experiencing massive success in her career, her heart was shattered and she fell into a deep depression. She contemplated revealing her romantic relationships with the Kennedys but received one million dollars from their family as compensation for keeping it confidential.
Before her passing, Marilyn was enthusiastic about her work
and enjoyed a weekend in Lake Tahoe with Joe DiMaggio, her second spouse. Rumors circulated that they planned to remarry. The Kennedy siblings dispatched people to track them both to ensure that nothing was disclosed to the media. Shortly after their weekend together, Marilyn was found deceased at home in Brentwood.
On August 5, 1962 at 3:50am, Marilyn passed away at the age of 36 from a overdose of fifty sleeping pills that were prescribed to her by her doctor. Although many suspect foul play due to her alleged knowledge, no evidence has been found to confirm this speculation.
Despite her undeniable talent and beauty, Marilyn Monroe's life ended tragically and prematurely at the height of her career. Her iconic curves, blonde hair, and famous pout contributed to her captivating and enigmatic allure, which paired with her comedic prowess in films like "Some Like it Hot," solidified her status as an American legend. Today, Monroe remains the most extensively written about film star in history, a testament to her enduring influence.
Works Cited: Monroe, Marilyn.
"Icons of an Era: Unforgettable People" - a book titled "The American Dream" published by Time-Life Books in 1998, features Marilyn Monroe on page 36 and is attributed to an unknown author.
Marilyn Monroe was the subject of a book published in 1995 by Chelsea House Publishers, and Henry R. Luce wrote an article about her.
The source material is a book titled "This Fabulous Century 1950-1960," published in 1970 by Hornfischer Literary Management and centered on the historical events and cultural movements of that decade.
